Average years of schooling among adults in Serbia
Serbia: Average years of schooling among adults was 11.64 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
11.64 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
49th
of 192 countries
All-time high
11.64 years
in 2021
All-time low
6.3 years
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average years of schooling among adults in Serbia, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Serbia recorded 11.64 years for average years of schooling among adults in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Serbia peaked at 11.64 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.3 years, in 1990.
Serbia ranks 49th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling among adults in Serbia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.3 years | — |
| 1991 | 6.44 years | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 6.57 years | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 6.71 years | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 6.84 years | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 6.98 years | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 7.07 years | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 7.16 years | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 7.26 years | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 7.35 years | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 7.44 years | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 7.57 years | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 7.7 years | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 8.12 years | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 8.55 years | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 8.97 years | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 9.39 years | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 9.82 years | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 10.24 years | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 10.3 years | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 10.37 years | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 10.57 years | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 10.56 years | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 10.56 years | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 10.72 years | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 11.02 years | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 11.13 years | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 11.16 years | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 11.27 years | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 11.37 years | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 11.51 years | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 11.64 years | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 11.64 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.64 years | +0.0% |
Serbia compared with similar countries
- Serbia's 11.64 years is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.11 years, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Serbia's 11.64 years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 94% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.87 years | 6.3 years | 7.35 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.81 years | 7.44 years | 10.3 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.87 years | 10.37 years | 11.37 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.61 years | 11.51 years | 11.64 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
- 46 France 11.77 years compare
- 47 Ireland 11.72 years compare
- 48 Antigua and Barbuda 11.65 years compare
- 50 Marshall Islands 11.64 years compare
- 51 Andorra 11.61 years compare
- 51 South Africa 11.61 years compare
More education data for Serbia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 67,944 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 530 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 89,461 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 84,207 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 478,731 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 251,941 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2155 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0383 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Serbia?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Serbia was 11.64 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.64 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3 years in 1990.
- How does Serbia rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Serbia ranks 49th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Serbia data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.